Developement of analytical method for new designer drugs by using accurate mass data base

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K21157
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0908:Society medicine, nursing, and related fields
• Research Institution: Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University
• Principal Investigator: Katagi Munehiro 大阪医科薬科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (40965620)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-08-31 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 精密質量データベース / ニタゼン類 / デザイナーベンゾジアゼピン類 / LC/MS / TOF-MS

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have created an exact mass database based on the chemical structures of benzoimidazole analgesics (nitazenes, NZ) and benzodiazepine derivatives (designer benzodiazepines, DBZ), which are among the "designer drugs" that are ingested in very small quantities and exhibit their pharmacological effects. By applying this database to the analysis of postmortem samples collected from the bodies of those suspected to have died of drug poisoning, it will be possible to identify the drugs causing poisoning and avoid missing these drugs through exhaustive screening.

Free Research Field

薬毒物分析

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年その乱用が欧米を中心に社会問題の一つとなっている、ベンゾイミダゾール系鎮痛薬（ニタゼン類、NZ）及びベンゾジアゼピン誘導体（デザイナーベンゾジアゼピン、DBZ）は極微量でその薬理作用を発現することから、その摂取証明には超微量分析が不可欠である。本研究により作成した、これら薬物の精密質量データベースを、薬物中毒死が疑われる法医解剖試料に適用することで網羅的スクリーニングが容易となり、死因究明におけるこれら薬物の見逃し回避が期待できる。